Review of "Angel Eyes" by Shannon Dittemore

Rating: 4.5 Stars

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Summary from Thomas Nelson: Once you’ve seen, you can’t unsee.

Brielle went to the city to chase her dreams and found tragedy instead. She’s come home to shabby little Stratus, Oregon, to live with her grief and her guilt . . . and an incredible, numbing cold she can’t seem to shake.

Jake’s the new guy at school. The boy next door with burning hands and an unbelievable gift that targets him for corruption.

Something more than fate has brought them together. An evil bigger than both of them lurks in the shadows nearby, hiding in plain sight. Two angels stand guard, unsure what’s going to happen. And a beauty brighter than either Brielle or Jake has ever seen is calling them to join the battle in a realm where all human choices begin.

A realm that only angels and demons—and Brielle—can perceive.

Review: Angel Eyes is an exciting debut novel by Shannon Dittemore that will leave readers eagerly anticipating the sequel.  You definitely don't have to be a young adult reader to enjoy the characters, plot, and message.  Like popular mainstream fantasy novels, Angel Eyes transcends age boundaries with an action-packed plot and appealing characters.  Dittemore blends these elements with a strong Christian message that is unique and thought-provoking without being preachy.  Vampires and wizards are replaced by angels and demons in the classic, but very real battle, of good versus evil.  

Although I am typically drawn to historical fiction novels, I do enjoy fantasy novels like Harry Potter and The Hunger Games.  Angel Eyes certainly ranks with those books, and I was drawn into the plot from the beginning.  There are plenty of danger and action-sequences to keep the story moving along, but there are also introspective moments that provide dimension to the plot and its characters.  Dittemore tells the story from the perspectives of two teens, Brielle and Jake, as well as an angel and a demon.  Each character offers different insights into the "Terrestrial" world and the "Celestial" world.  The demon's perspective was the most disturbing and slightly graphic of the four, but clearly illustrated the poisons of greed, hatred, and fear. 

Dittmore's depiction of fear is particularly relevant to readers since it is something that most of us deal with to some extent daily.  Whether or not events in the Celestial realm play out like they do in Angel Eyes, the novel provides an illustration of how our human weaknesses can be turned into instruments of evil.  Just like Jake and Brielle, we engage in battles of good versus evil daily whether mentally, emotionally, or physically. Reading Angel Eyes, opened my eyes to the fact that something as ordinary as fear can spread, multiply, and lead us down the wrong path. This message is important for young adults facing the pressures of growing up, but it is equally important for adults. 

Angel Eyes is a story about faith, wrapped in a covering of a fantasy-action novel.  The beginnings of a love story also flow throughout the plot, providing a respite from the fighting and danger.  But it is all of the elements together that make me ready for the second and third novels.
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I received a complimentary copy of this book from LitFuse through their book review program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions expressed above are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

About Shannon: Shannon is a wife and mother. A sister. A daughter. A friend. She was raised in Northern California by her parents-pastors of their local church and constant figures of inspiration.

As a youth, Shannon traveled with an award-winning performing arts team, excelling on stage and in the classroom. As a young adult, she attended Portland Bible College, continued acting, and worked with an outreach team targeting inner-city kids in the Portland-Metropolitan  area.

It was in Portland that she met her husband, Matt. They were married in 2002. Soon after, they took the reins of the youth ministry at Living Way Community Church in Roseville, California where they continue to serve in that capacity. In October of 2004, their son Justus was born, followed by their daughter Jazlyn, born in 2008. 

Find out more at www.shannondittemore.com

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